Operating device for switches or the like

ABSTRACT

An operating device adapted in the illustrated embodiment to cooperate with a device such as the tripping actuator of an associated circuit breaker whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the tripping actuator has acted to trip the associated circuit breaker due to a fault condition such as a heavy current overload on the associated circuit breaker. The operating device comprises a finger-like operating element forming part of a pivotally mounted bell crank which is normally held in a latched open position by the engagement of a latch finger also forming part of the bellcrank with a separately pivotally mounted latch plate forming part of the operating device. A pivotally mounted follower member forming part of the operating device follows the tripping movement of the associated tripping actuator when the tripping actuator moves to trip the associated circuit breaker. The movement of the follower member pivotally moves the latch plate of the operating device to a position in which it no longer obstructs the movement of the latch finger of the operating device, permitting a tension spring to suddenly snap the bellcrank and the finger-like operating element carried thereby to an unlatched position in which the finger-like operating element engages the pushbutton of a microswitch or the like. Closure of the microswitch by actuation of the pushbutton as just described may be utilized to energize a signal light, alarm or the like. Suitable mechanical and/or electrical means may be provided to effect relatching of the operating device.

United States Patent Boyd 1 1 Jan. 28, 1975 OPERATING DEVICE FOR SWITCHES OR THE LIKE [57] ABSTRACT 75 Inventor; D ld R, B d, w k h wi An operating device adapted in the illustrated embodiment to cooperate with a device such as the tripping [73] ASS'gnee: Al hs'chalmers Corporauon actuator of an associated circuit breaker whereby to M'lwaukee provide a signal or alarm that the tripping actuator has [22] Filed; No 1, 1973 acted to trip the associated circuit breaker due to a fault condition such as a heavy current overload on [21] Appl the associated circuit breaker. The operating device I comprises a finger-like operating element forming part [52] US. Cl 200/153 R, 200/74, 335/13 of a p ly n e ell crank which is normally [51] Int. Cl. 1101b 5/00, HOlh 73/12 held in a latched p n p ition by the engagement of [58] Field of Search 200/153 R, 322, 318, 324, a latch finger also forming part of the bellcrank with a 200/325, 335, 337, 332, 153 T, 74; 335/13, separately pivotally mounted latch plate forming part 17 27 of the operating device. A pivotally mounted follower member forming part of the operating device follows [56] References Cit d the tripping movement of the associated tripping actu- UNITED STATES PATENTS ator when the tripping actuator moves to trip the asso- 2 7 3 326 H 1955 B k I 335 13 ciated circuit breaker. The movement of the follower 5 3 8x957 2 g 33413 member pivotally moves the latch plate of the operat- 2862075 11/1958 Nelle] X ing device to a position in which it no longer obstructs 239372258 5/1960 H ZOO/74 X the movement of the latch finger of the operating de- 3,2s4,731 11/1966 Nicol 335/13 vice, permitting a tension Spring to Suddenly p the 3,388,357 6/1968 Lawson etal 335/13 bellcrank and the. finger-like operating element car 3,706,916 12/1972 Halbeck et a1 335/13 ried thereby to an unlatched position in which the fin- 3720391 3/1973 Nicol 3 t t 335/13 ger-like operating element engages the pushbutton of w at a microswitch or the like. Closure of the microswitch by actuation of the pushbutton as just described may 3,760,307 9/1973 Patel 335/]3 v be utilized to energize a Signal light, alarm or the like Suitable mechanical and/or electrical means may be Primary ExamtnerRobert K. Schaefer 4 I Assistant Examiner wmiam J. smith prov1ded to effect relatchlng of the operating device. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Sullivan 16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 I l 1 I i i i i {I} I l i I l I soi 1 34 lip k -53 F r l 44* 42 401 4 l 90 l 46 76 PATENTED 7 3,863,043

SHEET 10F 2 mmnmmmm mmu LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an operating device which is adapted to be mechanically actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined event whereby to perform a predetermined operation, such as the closing of a switch, upon the occurrence of the predetermined event. The device of the invention will be described as embodied in an operating device which is adapted to be actuated to a tripped position upon the tripping of a circuit breaker or the like and which in being actuated to tripped position is effective to close a switch which energizes the electrical circuit of a signal or of an alarm. However, the device may be actuated by other means than the tripping of a circuit breaker, and the actuation of the device of the invention to tripped position may be utilized to perform other operations than the tripping of a switch.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, it may bestated that electrical circuit breakers are adapted to be tripped in three different ways as follows: (1) Manual Trip this is where the circuit breaker is unlatched by a manual operation whereby to permit the circuit breaker to move to tripped position; (2) Shunt Trip an electrical solenoid is energized to cause unlatching of the circuit breaker, whereby to permit movement of the circuit breaker to tripped position, (3) Fault Trip a fault such as heavy overcurrent, for example, causes actuation of suitable relay devices to cause unlatching of the circuit breaker, whereby to permit movement of the circuit breaker to tripped position.

While not restricted thereto, the operating device of the present invention may be advantageously used in conjunction with the actuating device which trips a circuit breaker in response to a fault condition such as a heavy overload current. When used in this environment, the operating device of the present invention may be used to operate a switch in a signal or alarm circuit, whereby to indicate that the associated circuit breaker has tripped due to a fault condition, rather than having been manually tripped or shunt tripped as previously described.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating device of v the invention is used inassociation with a tripping actuator which may be of the type described in my copending United States patent application Ser. No. 365,024 filed May 29, 1973, entitled Magnetic Actuator Device, whereby the movement of the movable armature of the magnetic actuator device of the aforesaid United States patent application to cause tripping of an associated circuit breaker is also utilized to cause movement of the operating device of the present patent application whereby to move the subject operating device to a tripped position in which it closes a microswitch or the like. The closure of the microswitch by the subject operating device as just described may be utilized to close an indicator circuit, to energize a signal light on a panel board or alternatively to ring an alarm bell, for example, whereby to indicate that the associated circuit breaker has been moved to tripped position by a fault condition.

It has been known in the prior art to connect a latching relay in circuit with a circuit breaking tripping actuator device for the purpose ofindicating that the circuit breaker tripping actuator device has been actuated to trip the circuit breaker. However, it has been found that latching relays are not entirely satisfactory for this purpose for various reasons such as, for example, the following: (I) the response time of the tripping actuator may be faster than that of the latching relay with the result that the latching relay does not respond to the movement of the tripping actuator; (2) conversely. the response time of the latching relay may be such that it responds to a momentary transient condition which is not a true fault, with the result that the latching relay is actuated although the tripping actuator does not respond; and (3) when used with a circuit breaker tripping system of the type disclosed in my copending United States patent application Ser. No. 316,372, filed Dec. 18, 1972, entitled Overcurrent Trip Device," the use of a latching relay to indicate the tripping of the breaker imposes an undesirable electrical load on the tripping system, whereas the operating device of the present invention does not impose an undesirable load when used with the tripping system of the aforesaid application Ser. No. 316,372.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an operating device which is held in a latched position until the latching element of the operating device isacted upon by an external force upon the occurrence ofa predetermined event whereby to permit movement of the operating device to an unlatched position in which it performs a function such as the closing of a switch or the like which may be used to provide an indication of the occurrence of the predetermined event.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating device adapted to be used in conjunction with the tripping actuator of a circuit breaker whereby movement of the tripping actuator to trip the associated circuit breaker causes movement of the operating device to a tripped position in which it causes operation of a signal or alarm to indicate that the circuit breaker has been moved to tripped position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an operating device adapted for use in connection with the tripping operation of a circuit breaker or the like in which the operating device is mechanically, rather than electrically, interlocked with the tripping actuator for the associated circuit breaker whereby movement of the tripping actuator to trip the circuit breaker will substantially simultaneously cause unlatching movement of the operating device of the present invention to close a switch or the like whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the circuit breaker has been tripped due to a fault condition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an operating device adapted for use with a circuit breaker tripping system of the type disclosed in my copending United States patent application Ser. No. 316,372 filed Dec. 18, 1972, and which does not impose an undesirable electrical load on the tripping system.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention an operating device adapted to cooperate with a device such as the tripping actuator of an associated circuit breaker whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the tripping actuator has acted to trip the associated circuit breaker due to a fault condition such as a heavy current overload on the associated circuit breaker. The operating device comprises a finger-like operating element forming part of a'pivotally mounted bell crank which is normally held in a latched open position by the engagement of a latch finger also forming part of the bell crank with a separately pivotally mounted latch plate forming part of the operating device. A pivotally mounted follower member forming part of the operating device follows the tripping movement of the associated tripping actuator when the tripping actuator moves to trip the associated circuit breaker. The movement of the follower member pivotally moves the latch plate of the operating device to a position in which it no longer obstructs the movement of the latch finger of the operating device, permitting a tension spring to suddenly snap the bell crank and the finger-like operating element carried thereby to an unlatched position in which the finger-like operating element engages the pushbutton of a microswitch or the like. Closure of the microswitch by actuation of the pushbutton as just described may be utilized to energize a signal light, alarm, or the like. Suitable mechanical and/or electrical means may be provided to effect relatching of the operating device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the operating device of theinvention in latched position and ready to be mechanically actuated to tripped position by the magnetic actuator device which trips the circuit breaker upon the occurrence of a fault such as a heavy overload current on the breaker; 1

FIG. 2 is a view of the operating device in the latched position of FIG. 1 with part of the device broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the operating device of the invention after it has been moved to tripped or unlatched position by the movement of the magnetic actuator device which trips the circuit breaker;

FIG. 4 is a view of the operating device in the unlatched position of FIG. 3, with part of the device broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with the operating device of the invention in the latched position of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view which shows the details of the latch plate and of the pivotally movable operating element whose position is controlled by the position of the latchplate. It should be noted that for clarity of illustration, the operating device in FIG. 6 is not shown in either one of the two extreme positions which it would normally assume, i.e., latched or unlatched, but rather is shown at a position intermediate the two extreme positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Arrangement Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. I, there is shown an operating device generally indicated at 10 in accordance with the invention which is mechanically interlocked by means of a follower I4 with a magnetic actuator device generally indicated at 12 in such manner that when magnetic actuator device 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is used to trip a circuit breaker, is moved from its latched position of FIG. 1 to its unlatched position of FIG. 3, the mechanical movement of the armature 16 of device 12 is effective to move operating device 10 from the latched position of FIG. 1 to the unlatched position of FIG. 3. In moving from the latched position of FIG. 1 to the unlatched position of FIG. 3, operator element 48 of operating device 10 closes the pushbutton52 of a microswitch 50 mounted on operating device 10 in the path of movement of operator element 48. The closure of the microswitch by the movement of operator element 48 from its FIG. 1 position to its FIG. 3 position may be utilized to energize a signal light on a panel board or to ring an alarm bell, either of which would be indicative of the fact that the magnetic actuator device 12 has been actuated due to the occurrence of a fault current, such as a heavy overload on the circuit breaker, to trip the associated circuit breaker to open position.

The magnetic actuator device generally indicated at 12 may be similar to that shown in and described in my aforementioned copending United States patent application Ser. No. 365,024 filed May 29, 1973, entitled Magnetic Actuator Device." For the purposes of the present application, it should suffice to say that magnetic actuator device 12 comprises an axially or linearly movable armature member of magnetic material 16 which in the FIG. 1 position is normally maintained against the force of a biasing spring in a generally retracted position within the configuration of the magnetic actuator device 12 due to its attraction by a permanent magnet means forming part of device 12. Armature 16 has affixed thereto and carries therewith a stem member 18 at one end of which is mounted a nut member 20 which cooperates with a latch mechanism on an associated circuit breaker. A second nut member 22 is threadedly engaged with a portion of the stem 18 and serves as a stop device to limit the axial movement of armature l6 and stem 18.

A trip coil (not shown) is provided as part of magnetic actuator device 12, trip coil being momentarily energized by an electrical pulse upon the occurrence of a fault current such as a heavy overload current through the circuit breaker with which the magnetic actuator device 12 is associated. Upon the receipt by the trip coil of device 12 of an electrical signal pulse indicative of the fault current on the associated circuit breaker, the magnetic circuit which normally maintains the magnetic armature I6 in retracted position of FIG. 1 against the biasing spring force is sufficiently demagnetized to permit the biasing spring which normally urges magnetic armature 16 in an upward direction relative to the views of FIGS. 1 and 2 to overcome the magnetic force holding the armature in its retracted position, thereby permitting the armature 16 to move upwardly from the FIG. 1 position to the FIG. 3 position.

The upward movement of armature 16 from the FIG. 1 position to the FIG. 3 position causes the pivotally mounted follower member 14 which forms a part of operating device 10 to move in an upward direction to in turn move the latch plate 56 forming part of device 10 in such manner as to permit movement of the operator element 48 from its latched position (FIG. 1) to its unlatched position (FIG. 3), all,of which will be described in more detail hereinafter. The movement of operator element 48 to the unlatched position of FIG. 3 moves the operator element 48 into engagement with pushbutton 52 of microswitch 50 whereby to close the electrical circuit of a suitable signaling or alarm device as will be described in detail hereinafter. Specific Description Referring now to the drawings, the operating device comprises a bracket structure generally indicated at 30, probably best seen in the view of FIG. 5. Bracket structure comprises anormally horizontal base portion 32 which is adapted to be screwed or bolted to the lower end of the magnetic actuator devicel2 whereby to positively orient the devices 10 and 12 relative to each other. Bracket 30 also includes rear wall 34 (the left-hand wall relative to the drawings) and opposite vertical side walls 36 and 38. A bell crank generally indicated at is mounted for pivotal movement upon a shaft 42, shaft 42 being stationarily mounted in and extending between the opposite side walls 36 and 38 of bracket 30 intermediate the height of bracket 30; As best seen in the perspective view of FIG. 6, the bell crank generally indicated at 40 comprises a U-shaped support element 44 including the portions 44A and 44B which are pivotally mounted upon the support rod 42 and extend laterally rearwardly (or to the left relative to the drawings) of shaft 42. Support element 44 also includes portion 44C which connects the ends of lateral portions 44A and 44B, portion 44C extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft 42. Bell crank 40 also includes a forwardly projecting relatching arm 46 which cooperates with a relatching mechanism to be described, and a vertically extending operator element 48, previously referred to, whichis adapted to cooper ate with the pushbutton 52 of microswitch mounted on the outer surface of bracket side wall 38. Microswitch 50 has three terminals 53. Bell crank 40 also includes an upstanding latch finger 54 which is adapted to cooperate with the pivotally mounted latch plate generally indicated at 56 to be described hereinafter. The relatching arm 46, the upstanding operator element 48 and the latch finger 54 are all integral parts of bell crank 40 and all lie on a side of the axis defined by pivotal support shaft 42 of bell crank 40 opposite the side on which the connecting portion 44C of U-shaped support portion 44 of the bell crank lies.

The latch plate generally indicated at 56 comprises a flat planar surface having one rectangular corner thereof cut away, i.e., the corner lying in the path of movement of latch finger 54. Latch plate 56 is provided with a pair of downturned ears 58 which are pivotally mounted on a rod 60. Rod 60 is stationarily mounted in the opposite walls 36 and 38 of bracket 30 contiguous the upper edge of the respective walls 36 and 38.

The longitudinal axis of rod 60 on which latch plate 56 is pivotally mounted lies above and to the right, relative to the drawings, of the longitudinal axis of rod 42 on which bell crank 40 is pivotally mounted. The axis of rod 60 is parallel to the axis of rod 42.

As best seen in the views of FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, a helical tension spring is connected between the left edge portion (relative to the views shown in the drawings) of latch plate 56 and the upper edge portion of the connecting portion 44C of U-shaped support member 44 which forms part of the bell crank 40.

As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, spring 70 is effective to snap bell crank 40 with operating element 48 thereof, into the unlatched position of FIGS.

5 latch plate 56 downwardly into obstructing relation to latch finger 54 when bell crank 40 and the operating element 48 thereon are moved to the latched position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

A further feature of the construction is the provision 0 of a relatching means including a solenoid 72 suitably mounted within a solenoid housing 74, which in turn is suitably secured to vertical wall 36 ofmounting bracket 30. Solenoid 72 is suitably connected into an electrical circuit whereby solenoid 72 may be energized when it 5 is desired to relatch the operating device 10, that is, to

move the operating device 10 from its unlatched position of FIG. 3 back to its latched position of FIG. I. The relatching solenoid assembly includes a magnetic plunger having a stem 75 which is vertically movable in 20 an upward direction when solenoid 72 is energized to perform the relatching operation. Plunger stem 75 carries a laterally extending crosspiece 76 which, when solenoid 72 is energized to cause upward movement of plunger stem 75, is adapted to move into engagement 25 with relatching arm 46 which forms part of pivotally 30 axis 42 relative to the views shown in the drawings whereby to move bell crank from its unlatched position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to its latched position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

During the counterclockwise movement of bell crank 40 during the relatching, operation, bell crank 40 reaches an angular position in which latch finger 54 of the bell crank is located at a counterclockwise position in which it is not underneath latch plate 46. When this happens spring 70 will suddenly snap latch plate down so that edge 59 of latch plate 56 lies behind (i.e., to the right in the views of the drawings) the latch finger 54 of bell crank 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When this happens, bell crank 40 is latched against clockwise movement, since edge 59 of latch plate 56 is in obstructing relation to any pivotal movement of latch finger 54 in a clockwise direction relative to the views in the drawings.

In addition to the electrically operated relatching mechanism just described, the operating device 10 is also provided with a manual relatching mechanism comprising a linearly movable abutment member 80 which is integral with a reduced diameter short stem 82. The stem 82 on which abutment 80 is mounted is slidably movable through a passage in a right angle earlike extension 84 carried by bracket 30. Abutment member 80 lies entirely on the left-hand side relative to the views in the drawings, of ear-like extension 84. The laterally outer or right-hand end of stem 82 has rigidly secured thereto a manual operator member generally indicated at 86 of rightangle shape including an elongated horizontal operating arm 88 and a vertical arm portion 90 which is at right angles to operating arm 88, with arm.88 and arm portion 90 lying in a common 65 plane. Arm portion 91 of manual operator member 86 is bent at right angles to the plane of arm portion 90 at the upper end of arm portion 90. Arm portion 91 is secured to stem 82. A compression spring 92 surrounds stem 82 between bracket ear 84 and portion 91 of operating member 86. I

' When operating device 10 is in the unlatched position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operating device 10 may be returned to latched position of FIGS. 1, 2 and by moving the manual operating member 86 to the left, relative to the views shown in the drawings, whereby to move abutment member 80 of the manual relatching device into engagement with the upper end of operating element 48 which forms part of bell crank 40, the movement of the manual operator member 86 being against the-force of spring 92. The engagement of abutment 80 with operating element 48 causes a counterclockwise motion of bell crank 40, relative to the views in the drawings, from its unlatched position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to its latched position of FIGS. 1, 2

and 5, thus accomplishing mechanically and manually the same function which was accomplished by the action of the solenoid 72 as previously described.

Thus, it will be seenthat there are described and shown two alternative relatching arrangements: namely, (1) the solenoid-operated relatching arrangement in accordance with which crosspin 76 of solenoidoperated plunger stem 75 engages relatching arm 46 of hell crank 40 to swing the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction relative to the views shown in the drawing to accomplish the relatching-movement; or alternatively, (2) the linear movement of abutment 80 by movement of operator member 86, causing abut-ment 80 to engage operating element 48 and swing bell crank 40 in a counterclockwise direction to effectuate the return of operating device to the latched position of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the relatching operation, as previously described, whether by operation of solenoid 72 or by operation of manual operator 86, spring 70 acts to snap latch plate 56 down into its latched position as previously described.

' The follower device generally indicated at 14 comprises a rigid plate-like member 94 which is provided with oppositely disposed downwardly depending ears 96 by means of which follower member 14 is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis ofrod 60 about which latch plate 56 is also mounted for pivotal movement. The follower member 14 also comprises an elongated follower element 98 which is rigidly attached, as by rivets for example, to plate-like portion 94 of the follower member. Follower element 98 is made of a flexible spring-like material such as beryllium copper, and

is provided with an elongated slot 100 which extends.

inwardly from the left-hand end of follower element 98 relative to the views shown in the drawings. slot 100 permits follower element 98 to straddle the upper end of stem 18, which is secured to and moves with armature 16 of magnetic actuator device 12. Due to its connection to rigid plate 94, follower element 98 and plate 94 move as a unit about the pivotal axis 60 on which plate 94 is mounted. However, the resilient characteristic of follower element 98, due to the material of which face of upstanding lip portion 57 of latch plate 56, imparting a clockwise pivotal motionto latch plate 56, relative to the views in the drawings, whereby to release latch plate 56 from its obstructing engagement with latch finger 54 on bell crank to permit movement of bell crank 40 to unlatched position as will be described under the description of operation.

Summary of Operation Assume that operating device 10 and magnetic actuating device 12 which it cooperates areboth in the latched position of FIGS. I, 2 and 5. In this position, bell crank 40 has been swung by a previous latching operation to a position in which the right-hand edge of latching finger 54 of the bell crank is engaged by the edge 59 of latching plate 56 to prevent clockwise movement of bell crank 40 toward the unlatched position. In'this position also, magnetic plunger 16 which forms part of magnetic actuator device 12 is in its fully retracted position with the result that follower member 14, which rests upon the upper surface of magnetic plunger l6, is in a substantially horizontal position as seen in the latched position in FIGS. 1, 2 and Sin which operating element'48 does not engage the pushbutton 52 of microswitch 50.

Assume now that a signal pulse is received by the trip coil which forms part of the magnetic actuator device 12 which trip signal is indicative, for example, of a fault such as a'heavy overcurrent on the circuit breaker with which the magnetic actuating device 12 is associated. This trip signal willdemagnetize the magnetic. circuit of magnetic actuator device 12 sufficiently to permit the biasing spring which urges magnetic armature or plunger 16 in an upward direction to overcome the magnetic force exerted by the magnetic circuit, thereby permitting plunger 16 and stem 18 connected to plunger 16 to move upwardly to the position in FIG. 3.

This upward motion of stem 18 carried by magnetic plunger 16 is used to unlatch a tripping mechanism on the associated circuit breaker whereby to permit the associate circuit breaker to trip to an open position. The magnetic plunger 16 is reset to its magnetic latched position as shown in FIG. I by mechanism on the breaker during the tripping operation of the breaker so that the plunger 16 actually only occupies the elevated position shown in FIG. 3 for a very short interval of time such as a fraction of a second. However, the upward movement of magnetic plunger 16 to the position of FIG. 3 which only lasts for a brief moment is sufficient to move the pivotally mounted follower member 14 to an elevated position such as that shown in FIG. 3 about its pivotal support axis 60 whereby to cause the edge of follower portion 94 to engage upturned lip portion 57 of latch plate 56 to swing latch plate 56 against the tension of spring about its pivotal axis 60 in a clockwise direction relative to the views shown in the drawing sufficiently to raise edge 59 of the latch plate 56 above and out of latching engagement with latch finger 54 forming part of bell crank 40. When this occurs, the tension on the stretched spring 70 will suddenly pull bell crank 40 in a clockwise direction relative to the views shown in the drawing to cause operating element 48 to move into engagement with pushbutton 52 of microswitch 50 to close microswitch 50. Operating device 10 will thus assume the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be understood, as previously mentioned, thatthe position of plunger 16 and of follower member 14 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 is only a momentary position and that these members very quickly return to the position shown in FIG. 1 although the bell crank 40 and the elements thereofincluding latch finger 54 and operating element 48 which engages pushbutton 52 of microswitch 50 remain in the FIGS. 3 and 4 position until bell crank 40 is relatched to the position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

Assume now that bell crank 40 and the latch finger 54 and operating element 48 thereof are in the unlatched position of FIGS. 3 and 4 and that it is desired to relatch the device for a subsequent operation.

To accomplish the relatching operation, as previously explained,'two alternative means are provided. One of these is the use of the solenoid 72 which may be energized by closure of an electrical circuit therethrough, to cause upward movement of plunger stem 75 and of cross member 76 carried thereby. The upward movement of plunger stem 75 and of cross member 76 will cause cross member 76 carried by stem 75 to engage relatching arm 46 of bell crank 40 and to swing bell crank 40 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the views shown in the drawings. When latching finger 54 forming part of bell crank 40 has moved a sufficient distance in a counterclockwise direction to clear edge 59 of latch plate 56, tension spring 70 which has been tensioned by the counterclockwise movement of bell crank 40 in the latching direction and alsoby the fact that the top edge of latching finger 54 during its counterclockwise movement has cammed latch plate 56 somewhat in a clockwise pivotal direction to further tension spring 70, will suddenly snap latch plate 56 in a counterclockwise direction downwardly relative to the views shown in the drawings to cause latching edge 59 of latch plate 56 to fall behind and in obstructing relation to latch finger 54 carried by bell crank 40, (Le, edge 59 of latch plate 56 lies on the right of and in obstructing abutting relation to clockwise rotation of latch finger 54 relative to the views in the drawings). The engagement of latching finger 54 of bell crank 40 with edge 59 of latching plate 56 will hold bell crank 40 in the latched position of FIGS. 1 and 2 until the latch plate 56 is again tilted in a clockwise direction to release edge 59 oflatch plate 56 from engagement with latching finger 54 of bell crank 40 as previously explained in connection with the unlatching operation.

Also, as previously described, operating device may be returned from its unlatched position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to its latched position of FIGS. I and 2 by manually pushing manual relatching member 86 to the left relative to the views of the drawings to cause abutment 80 carried by spring biased stem member 82 to abut against operating element 48 of the bell crank to swing the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction from its FIG. 3 and 4 position back to its FIG. I and 2 position in a manner similar to that obtained by the action of solenoid 72 previously described. When pressure is released from manual relatching member 86, biasing spring 82 restores member 86 to its normal position in which abutment 80 does not engage operating element 48.

From the foregoing detailed description of the invention it has been shown how the objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner. However, modifications and equivalents ofthe disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An operating device useful in performing a function such as closing a switch, a valve or the like, comprising a support means, an operating means mounting for pivotal movement on said support means, an operating element carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch finger carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch member pivotally mounted on said support means independently of said operating means, and normally positioned to lie in the path of movement of said latch finger whereby to prevent pivotal movement in an unlatching direction of said operating means and thus to hold said operating means in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to a contiguous switch or the like, a follower member forming part of said operating device and adapted to follow the move ment of a device external of said operating device, said follower member being engageable with said latch member to impart movement to said latch member whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said device external of said operating device will move said latch member out of latching relation to said latch finger, and spring means connected to said operating means and effective when said latch member is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said operating means about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said operating means engages said contiguous switch or the like.

2. An operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said operating means in a bell crank, said bell crank including an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.

3. An operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said spring means is connected between said operating means and said latch member. 4. An operating device as defined in claim I in which said follower member. is pivotally mounted about the same pivotal axis as said latch member and said latch member is provided with an abutment which is engaged by said follower member, whereby pivotal movement of said follower member imparts pivotal movement to said latch member.

5. An operating device as defined in claim 2 in which said arm is adapted to be engaged by a movable relatching'member whereby to pivotally move said bell crank about is pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.

6. An operating device as defined in claim 5 in which said movable relatching member is actuated by an electrical solenoid.

7. An operating device as defined in claim I including manually operated relatching means engageable with said operating means whereby to pivotally move said operating means about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.

8. An operating device useful in performing a function such as closing a switch, a valve or the like, comprising a support means, a bell crank mounted for pivotal movement on said support means about a first pivotal axis, said bell crank including a portion thereof extending laterally on one side of said first pivotal axis, an

operating element carried by and movable with said bell. crank, a latch finger carried by and movable with said bell crank, a latch plate pivotally mounted on said support means about a second pivotal axis which is vertieally and horizontally offset from said first pivotal axis, said latch plate being'normally positioned to lie in thepath of movement of said latch finger whereby to prevent pivotal movement of said bell crank in an unlatching direction and thus to hold said bell crank in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to a contiguous switch or the like, a follower member forming part of said operating device and mounted for pivotal movement on said support means, said follower member being adapted to follow the movement of a device external of said operating device, said follower member during its pivotal movement being engageable with said latch plate to impart pivotal movement to said latch plate whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said device external of said operating device will move said latch plate out oflatching relation to said latch finger, and a spring connected at one end thereof to said portion of said bell crank which extends laterally on one side of said first pivotal axis, said spring being connected to said bell crank at a point of connection which lies on said one side of said first pivotal axis, the opposite end of said spring being connected to said latch plate, whereby movement of said latch plate by said follower member while said bell crank is latched will tension said spring, said spring being effective when said latch plate is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said bell crank about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said bell crank engages a contiguous switch or the like.

9. An operating device as defined in claim 8 in which said bell crank includes an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.

10. In combination, an actuator device for tripping an electrical circuit breaker, said actuator device ineluding movable means which moves upon receipt of a signal by said actuator device whereby movement of said movable means results in tripping of said electrical circuit breaker, an operating device for operating a switch whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the eircuit breaker has tripped as a result of movement of said movable means, and a switch positioned contiguous and operated by said operating device, said operating device comprising a support means, an operating means mounted for pivotal movement on said support means, an operating element carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch finger carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch member pivotally mounted on said support means independently of said operating means and positioned to lie in the path of movement of said latch finger whereby to normally prevent pivotal movement in an unlatching direction of said operating means and thus to hold said operating means in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to said switch, a follower member forming part of said operating device and adapted to follow the movement of said movable means of said actuator device, said follower member being engageable with said latch member to impart movement to said latch member whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said movable means of said actuator device will move said latch member out of latching relation to said latch finger, and spring means connected to said operating means and effective when said latch member is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said operating means about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said operating means engages said contiguous switch whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the circuit breaker has tripped as a result of movement of said movable means of said actuator device.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said operating means is a bell crank, said bell crank including an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.

12. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said spring means is connected between said operating means and said latch member.

13. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said follower member is pivotally mounted about the same pivotal axis as said latch member and said latch member is provided with an abutment which is engaged by said follower member, whereby pivotal movement of said follower member imparts pivotal movement to said latch member.

14. The combination defined in claim 11 in which said relatching arm is adapted to be engaged by a movable relatching member whereby to pivotally move said bell crank about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 in which said movable relatching member is actuated by an electrical solenoid.

16. The combination defined in claim 1 including manually operated relatching means engageable with said operating means whereby to pivotally move said operating means about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position. 

1. An operating device useful in performing a function such as closing a switch, a valve or the like, comprising a support means, an operating means mounting for pivotal movement on said support means, an operating element carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch finger carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch member pivotally mounted on said support means independently of said operating means, and normally positioned to lie in the path of movement of said latch finger whereby to prevent pivotal movement in an unlatching direction of said operating means and thus to hold said operating means in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to a contiguous switch or the like, a follower member forming part of said operating device and adapted to follow the movement of a device external of said operating device, said follower member being engageable with said latch member to impart movement to said latch member whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said device external of said operating device will move said latch member out of latching relation to said latch finger, and spring means connected to said operating means and effective when said latch member is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said operating means about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said operating means engages said contiguous switch or the like.
 2. An operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said operating means in a bell crank, said bell crank including an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.
 3. An operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said spring means is connected between said operating means and said latch member.
 4. An operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said follower member is pivotally mounted about the same pivotal axis as said latch member and said latch member is provided with an abutment which is engaged by said follower member, whereby pivotal movement of said follower member imparts pivOtal movement to said latch member.
 5. An operating device as defined in claim 2 in which said arm is adapted to be engaged by a movable relatching member whereby to pivotally move said bell crank about is pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.
 6. An operating device as defined in claim 5 in which said movable relatching member is actuated by an electrical solenoid.
 7. An operating device as defined in claim 1 including manually operated relatching means engageable with said operating means whereby to pivotally move said operating means about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.
 8. An operating device useful in performing a function such as closing a switch, a valve or the like, comprising a support means, a bell crank mounted for pivotal movement on said support means about a first pivotal axis, said bell crank including a portion thereof extending laterally on one side of said first pivotal axis, an operating element carried by and movable with said bell crank, a latch finger carried by and movable with said bell crank, a latch plate pivotally mounted on said support means about a second pivotal axis which is vertically and horizontally offset from said first pivotal axis, said latch plate being normally positioned to lie in the path of movement of said latch finger whereby to prevent pivotal movement of said bell crank in an unlatching direction and thus to hold said bell crank in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to a contiguous switch or the like, a follower member forming part of said operating device and mounted for pivotal movement on said support means, said follower member being adapted to follow the movement of a device external of said operating device, said follower member during its pivotal movement being engageable with said latch plate to impart pivotal movement to said latch plate whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said device external of said operating device will move said latch plate out of latching relation to said latch finger, and a spring connected at one end thereof to said portion of said bell crank which extends laterally on one side of said first pivotal axis, said spring being connected to said bell crank at a point of connection which lies on said one side of said first pivotal axis, the opposite end of said spring being connected to said latch plate, whereby movement of said latch plate by said follower member while said bell crank is latched will tension said spring, said spring being effective when said latch plate is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said bell crank about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said bell crank engages a contiguous switch or the like.
 9. An operating device as defined in claim 8 in which said bell crank includes an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.
 10. In combination, an actuator device for tripping an electrical circuit breaker, said actuator device including movable means which moves upon receipt of a signal by said actuator device whereby movement of said movable means results in tripping of said electrical circuit breaker, an operating device for operating a switch whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the circuit breaker has tripped as a result of movement of said movable means, and a switch positioned contiguous and operated by said operating device, said operating device comprising a support means, an operating means mounted for pivotal movement on said support means, an operating element carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch finger carried by and movable with said operating means, a latch member pivotally mounted on said support means independently of said operating means and positioned to lie in the path of movemenT of said latch finger whereby to normally prevent pivotal movement in an unlatching direction of said operating means and thus to hold said operating means in a latched position in which said operating element is held in nonengaging relation to said switch, a follower member forming part of said operating device and adapted to follow the movement of said movable means of said actuator device, said follower member being engageable with said latch member to impart movement to said latch member whereby a predetermined movement of said follower member in response to movement of said movable means of said actuator device will move said latch member out of latching relation to said latch finger, and spring means connected to said operating means and effective when said latch member is moved out of latching relation to said latch finger to move said operating means about its pivotal support axis to an unlatched position in which said operating element carried by said operating means engages said contiguous switch whereby to provide a signal or alarm that the circuit breaker has tripped as a result of movement of said movable means of said actuator device.
 11. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said operating means is a bell crank, said bell crank including an arm adapted to be engaged by a relatching means whereby to pivotally return said bell crank from its unlatched position to its latched position.
 12. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said spring means is connected between said operating means and said latch member.
 13. The combination defined in claim 10 in which said follower member is pivotally mounted about the same pivotal axis as said latch member and said latch member is provided with an abutment which is engaged by said follower member, whereby pivotal movement of said follower member imparts pivotal movement to said latch member.
 14. The combination defined in claim 11 in which said relatching arm is adapted to be engaged by a movable relatching member whereby to pivotally move said bell crank about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position.
 15. The combination defined in claim 14 in which said movable relatching member is actuated by an electrical solenoid.
 16. The combination defined in claim 1 including manually operated relatching means engageable with said operating means whereby to pivotally move said operating means about its pivotal support axis from an unlatched position to a latched position. 